Chicago South Shore and South Bend Railroad (NICTD)


Rolling Stock Roster

Current Passenger Cars
Taken mostly from the Chicago Transit/Metra Railfan - 'Metra Car Roster' Page (Some information added)
Numbers    Type      Builder        Built    Notes            Capacity
------------------------------------------------------------- ---------
   1-30    MU Coach  Nippon-Sharyo  1982-83                    93 Seats
  31-38    MU Coach  Nippon-Sharyo  1982-83  Metra owned       93 Seats
  39-44    MU Coach  Nippon-Sharyo  1982-83                    93 Seats
17,26,41   MU Coach  Nippon-Sharyo  1992     replacements     110 Seats
  45-48    MU Coach  Nippon-Sharyo  1992                      110 Seats
11,27,36   MU Coach  Nippon-Sharyo  2001     replacements
 101-110   MU Coach  Nippon-Sharyo  2001     single cab        96 Seats
 201-210   Trailer   Nippon-Sharyo  1992                      133 Seats
 301-314   MU Coach  Nippon-Sharyo  2008-09  gallery cars     111 Seats
1201-1226  MU Coach  Nippon-Sharyo  2005     gallery cars     128 Seats
Cars 1-48, 101-110 and 201-210 are single level and of similar design. Cars 301-314 are bilevel and are of a design similar to Metra Electric cars 1201-1226 except 301-314 have end doors away from the cabs to allow for low level platform loading and unloading.
Cars 31-38 are owned by Metra, all other cars are owned by Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District (NICTD). NICTD operates all cars over their line between Kensington and South Bend and on Metra's line north of Kensington. NICTD stores and maintains all cars in their shops at Michigan City.
Cars 1-48 have cabs at both ends, cars 101-110 have cabs at one end (odd numbers at east end, even numbers at west end), and trailer cars 201-210 have no cabs. Cars 201-210 each have a single pantograph for auxiliary power. Trains are assembled with a cab at each end.
Cars 301-314 are operated in separate trains from the single level cars. Cars 301-314 have cabs at one end (odd numbers at east end, even numbers at west end) and a single pantograph at the non-cab end.
Cars 1201-1226 are similar to cars 301-314 except they were built for the Metra Electric District. Cars 301-314 were an add on to Metra's order for 1201-1226. The cars have been reconditions and carry the NICTD logo. NICTD started a 15 year lease in 2023.
All cars have center doors except for trailer cars 201-210. Center doors have high level platform access only while end doors also have low level platform access available, with manual conductor operation of stairway traps. (There are no low level steps on the cab end of 100 series cars.) Cars 1-48 and 301-314 have restrooms.
Original cars 11, 17, 26, 27, 36 and 41 were wrecked and replacement cars were built with same numbers as shown above.

In addition to the above, NICTD also owns and operates two GP40s numbered 1000 (formerly "the grey ghost") and 1001 and a wide selection of maintenance of way equipment.
Old Passenger Cars Taken directly from the Chicago Transit/Metra Railfan - 'South Shore Line Electric Cars' Page. Location flags added.
Numbers    Type              Builder         Built           Location Known
------------------------------------------------------------ -------------------------
  1- 15    MU Coach          Pullman         1926            YxYYYYYYY-YxYYY
 16- 25    MU Coach          Pullman         1927                           xYxYxYxYYY
 26- 39    MU Coach          Standard Steel  1929            YxY-YYYYYxYYYY
 40        MU Coach          Standard Steel  1929                          Y
100-109    MU Coach/Baggage  Pullman         1926            YxYxYxYYxY
110        MU Coach/Baggage  Pullman         1926                      x
111        MU Coach/Baggage  Standard Steel  1929                       x
201-210    Trailer           Pullman         1927            xxYYYYxxxx
211-212    Trailer           Pullman         1929                      xx
353-354    Trailer           Standard Steel  1929            xx
All cars were originally 60 feet long. During the 1940's, cars 11-28, 100-111, and 201-206 were lengthened to 78 feet. Cars 23-28 and 100-111 were also modernized to include air conditioning and picture windows. Cars 40, 110, and 111 had been rebuilt from cars 213, 10, and 29. Trailer coaches 353 and 354 were rebuilt from parlor cars of the same numbers.

The Illinois Railway Museum owns retired car numbers 8, 19, 28, 34, 37, and 40. Former line car 1100 was transfered to IRM in 2010. The East Troy Electric Railroad Museum in Wisconsin has retired cars 9, 13, 21 and 30, as well as cars 24 and 25 which have been converted to dining cars. The East Troy cars have their pantographs removed, and were converted to 600v operation by trolley wire. The National Parks Service owned 6, 23, 33, 107 and 203 were moved to East Troy September 25th, 2010.

In addition: The Southern Michigan Railroad in has retired cars 1 and 36. The Hoosier Valley Railroad Museum (North Judson, IN) has retired cars 4 and 31. The Fox River Trolley Museum (South Elgin, IL) has cars 7 and 14. The National New York Central Museum (Elkhart, IN) has car 15. The Michigan Transit Museum owns retired car 11 (formerly owned by East Troy). The Seashore Trolley Museum (Kennebunkport, ME) has retired car 32. The Boone & Scenic Valley Railroad in Iowa has retired cars 38, 39, 102, 106, 109 (with 102 and 109 being used for salvage). The Indiana Railway Museum (French Lick, IN) has retired cars 204 and 206. The Indiana Transportation Museum (Noblesville, IN) has retired car 205.

Cars 17, 26, 100 and 104 are the South Shore Restaurant in Chesterton. Bob Harris owns cars 3, 4, 5 and 31 (plus Chicago Lake Shore and South Bend 73 and parlor car 351) and intended to use the South Shore cars on an excursion line in South Bend. Cars 2, 12, 16, 18, 20, 22, 27, 35, 101, 103, 105, 108, 110, 111, 201, 202, 207-212 and 353-354 are reported as scrapped.

Search for historic cars at bera.org (Branford Electric Railway Assoc.) website. More information in a Railroad.net forum post.


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